Packaging & packaging waste Archives

Makers of cardboard-based packaging say the entire retail sector will have to switch to plastic crates and boxes because of the EU’s planned crackdown on packaging waste, which imposes reuse targets for packaging in transport and logistics.

A shift from single-use recyclable packaging to reusables in the informal eating-out sector could have detrimental effects on the environment, the economy and food safety, according to a new study commissioned by McDonald’s.

The corrugated cardboard sector can achieve climate neutrality before 2050 if a set of enabling conditions are met, including a stable and predictable regulatory framework to steer investments in clean technologies, Eleni Despotou told EURACTIV in an interview.

The European Commission's new packaging law has drawn criticism from manufacturers, who warn against a shift of focus from recycling to reusing materials. While the new proposal is watered down, concerns remain.

A new EU packaging law proposal has sparked major concerns among the EU food industry, who warn it is unworkable for food business operators - but NGOs slammed heavy industry lobbying for watering down the proposal.

The European Commission is due to propose a new law to tackle packaging waste on Wednesday (30 November) with watered down reuse targets after an outcry from industry, according to a leaked draft of the new regulation, seen by EURACTIV.

The food delivery sector is a major contributor to packaging waste, and by focusing on the sustainability of its packaging it can attract a larger consumer base while doing good for the planet, writes Sébastien Pellion.

A leaked draft of the EU’s new packaging law, seen by EURACTIV, has caused uproar among the industry, which says it risks undermining years of efforts and billions of euros worth of investments into recycling.

The European Commission is preparing to unveil new legislation which for the first time envisages measures to limit packaging size as well as the amount of “empty space” in boxes shipped around Europe by online retailers.

Although packaging as such won’t be regulated as a separate product category under the EU’s proposed eco-design rules for everyday consumer goods, it will be incorporated in the overall assessment of their environmental footprint, an EU official has said. Over-consumption of …

The revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) is a rare opportunity to scale up a competitive reuse sector in Europe and reverse a half-century addiction to single-use packaging and record levels of waste, writes Delphine Lévi Alvarès.

While the European Commission aims to encourage the use of recycled materials in its upcoming packaging law, it also recognises that recycling has its limits and cannot meet all the demand.

The European Commission will soon decide whether to allow the use of recycled plastics in food packaging despite some suggesting this could endanger consumer health.

With the European Commission due to present its Sustainable Products Action Plan on 30 March, Emmanuel Katrakis takes stock of the EU's push for a more circular economy in an interview with EURACTIV France.

PET bottles used as packaging for soft drinks and mineral waters are often touted as the greenest type of plastic, with one of the highest recycling rates in the industry. But those claims are new being challenged by new research.

Simple design and using at least 90% of the same plastic is the key to easy-to-recycle packaging for foods like crisps and chocolate, according to the industry.

Lightweight soft packaging such as crisp packets or wrapping for chocolate bars are giving headaches to European recyclers who currently have little incentive to buy the collected material. The European Commission will seek to address this in July with its planned revision of the EU’s packaging and packaging waste directive.

International brands including Coca Cola and PepsiCo called on Monday (17 January) for a global pact to combat plastic pollution that includes cuts in plastic production, a key growth area for the oil industry.